Episode 250: Virginia, 1619

2019 marks the 400th anniversary of two important events in American history: The creation of the first representative assembly in English North America and the arrival of the first African people in English North America.

Why were these Virginia-based events significant and how have they impacted American history?

Cassandra Newby-Alexander, a scholar of African American and American History and the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Norfolk State University, helps us find answers.

About the Show

Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.

It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.

Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.

Ben Franklin’s World is a production of the Omohundro Institute.

Episode Summary

Cassandra Newby-Alexander, a scholar of African American and American History and the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Norfolk State University, leads our investigation of why the creation of the first representative assembly and the arrival of the first African peoples in English North America were significant events.

During our exploration, Cassandra reveals details about the Virginia Company and the establishment of Jamestown and the Virginia Colony; When and why the Virginia Company ordered its colonists in Virginia to found a limited representative legislature; And information about how and why the First African peoples arrived in Virginia and about their experiences and impact in the young colony.

What You’ll Discover

  • The Virginia Company and the establishment of Jamestown
  • English settlement of Jamestown Island
  • Struggles of the Jamestown settlement
  • How Jamestown found stability
  • Creation of the first representative assembly in English North America
  • Representation in the first representative assembly
  • Historical significance of the first representative assembly
  • The arrival of the first Africans to English North America
  • The experiences of the first Africans in Virginia
  • African contributions to early Virginia society
  • Enslavement versus indentured servitude
  • How early Virginia society viewed the first Africans
  • How links between servitude, race, and the law became intertwined
  • Race and the law in colonial Virginia
  • How early Virginia ideas inspired the approaches of other colonies to race and slavery
  • Connections between the first representative assembly and the arrival of the First Africans
  • Virginia’s commemorations of the 1619 events

 

Links to People, Places, and Publications

Sponsor Links

Production of this episode was made possible by a grant from the Roller-Bottimore Foundation of Richmond, Virginia.

Complementary Episodes

 

Time Warp PlainTime Warp Question

In your opinion, what if Virginia never passed racialized slave laws in the seventeenth century? How might the trajectory of race in American history have been different?

Questions, Comments, Suggestions

Do you have a question, comment, or suggestion?

Get in Touch! Send me an e-mail, tweet, or leave a comment.

Listen!

Enjoy the Podcast?

Why Not Listen regularly through one of these apps?

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Google Podcasts | Listen to Stitcher

Ratings & Reviews

If you enjoy this podcast, please give it a rating and review.

Positive ratings and reviews help bring Ben Franklin's World to the attention of other history lovers who may not be aware of our show

Click here to rate & review on iTunes | Click here to rate & review on Stitcher

More from this show

Subscribe